360. A Deal With Mimicry

How does one deal with something like this in the first place?

Somehow, when Frost went to touch Mimicry’s cheek, she felt a strange warmth akin to the other Alter Frosts. The tugging sensation was violent at this distance, and Mimicry pushed its body forward, yearning to meld with Frost’s.

“… when you do something bad, you apologise. Is there nothing else you know? Do you gain anything from eating those people? Was it just to reach me? I don’t understand it either. But it’s not like you could help yourself. That much I can understand. The fact of the matter is – you came to search for me after you gained sapience.”

Mimicry didn’t know what to make of her words, and its body shivered, afraid of being rejected. When one finger left its cheek, it violently quivered, its eyes widening to beg for it to stay forever.

“Which means your nature might be different from the old you. But I don’t know how willing I am to put my trust into you.”

Just when it seemed like her hand would leave its cheek, another came to take hold of the other. She drew her face close enough where she could hear the grotesque breaths taken deep from within Mimicry’s body.

They were mere inches away.

Their eyes fused into one, and steadily, Mimicry’s body began to create a white version of Frost’s apparel to cover its naked form. When complete, Frost then asked her one question that lit Mimicry’s world alight.

“What can you do for me?”

“Anything! Everything! I… I can be you! I can do everything you can and whatever you ask me to! I am… I will be like you!”

“There is a place called the Nexus. Other beings like you exist there. Do you want to join us?”

“Yes! I do!”

“Then you’re going to need my trust. All of it.”

“I… I can – I’ll do anything for it! I also… want to join you in that place! In the Nexus!”

“Those entities above can only do good. You’ve only shown me that you can only do bad. In order for me to trust you, you’re going to have to go through hell and back.”

Frost had an idea. She didn’t know how it would come into fruition, but depending on Mimicry’s capabilities, it could replace her for smaller-scale operations. She couldn’t be everywhere at once. The Nexus was poised to be an insurmountable task, and it would only become harder.

Plus, the fact that Mimicry could communicate was significant enough for her to consider placing it in a position of power if it could prove itself worthy. She didn’t know how, when, or where.

All she knew was that Mimicry was not going to receive an express ticket to heaven any time soon. Frost utterly despised Mimicry for having undone the lives she saved. To her that was unforgivable. The only reason she offered this thing a strand of hope was because it was an Alter Frost. Were it anything else then she would have beaten it for hours, even days on end now that she had the time to spare.

Her anguish could be felt by all. Mimicry had to atone.

She then released Mimicry’s face, and the irresistible yearning in those crimson eyes were enough for Frost to understand that her proposition would serve to act as its ‘star’.

The carrot on the stick.

“Prove to me that you’re worthy of my time. Tell me everything you know about yourself. Confess everything you’ve done. Your time spent working for me will be your road to redemption.” Frost’s eyes glowed further with each spoken word until it became an ember. “Don’t pave it with blood as I have. If you truly wish to be like me, then you have a lot to learn.”

“I… I will assimilate all knowledge I learn!”

“Don’t call it an assimilation.”

“How come? I know the last few hours of those I consume. I can gain knowledge like this.” Mimicry was confused. “I can eat them without spilling blood. That is what you wanted.”

Mimicry was like Nav in a way. Both didn’t know how to express themselves well and were ill experienced when it came to emotions and reading between lines. At least Nav had grown better in the latter, so there was some hope to help Mimicry follow a sensible path.

The problem was, it was unapologetically murderous by design and by no fault of its own.

It was simply too risky to allow this kind of creature inside of the Nexus…

Yet the Icon of Judgement sits there too. I wonder how many Blessed would high tail it out of the Nexus if they knew what was up there.

“Mimicry cannot be archived. It is like you. A Corrupted, but with a mind.”

I’d rather not be called a Corrupted. Even if I technically am.

“Should I do the same? With how I like to refer to myself as a machine?”

Do as you like.

Frost deeply sighed, but she never broke character. Not in front of something that idolized her to a terrifying degree.

“You have a lot to learn. Who you eat matters. I don't eat friends. I expect you to follow suit.” She simply said, but kept what Mimicry said about memorizing the final hours of someone it devoured.

It sounded incredibly useful, and of course, it’d only be used on enemies. It was the ultimate detective ability if used correctly, and in this light Mimicry’s prospect increased by another fold.

“But I don’t have any.”

“The people behind me are your friends, as they are mine. The people in this city are my friends.”

“Will I be left to starve?”

“Do you have to eat to survive?”

“I will lose my form without consuming flesh. Can I eat animals instead?”

“So you can eat normal things too. We’ll give you what you can eat. What you can drink. We’ll help you. But you have to help us too. Does that sound reasonable?”

“Yes!” Mimicry was elated to hear this.

I hate that something like this can also be so innocent. Ugh.

“Carpalis.” Frost suddenly called for her Demonic friend.

“Yes~?”

“Who brought Mimicry here?”

“An Oboros Infinitas representative. She goes by the name of Belphegor. A Demon of laze. Hehe… she wouldn’t even fight back against Mimicry eating at her hand. She’s so slothful. Ahaha…” Carpalis giggled.

“Did she have anything else to say?”

“Other than she also has an eye on Mimicry. A punishing body with an eye on a Corrupted… They could aid Mimicry in its redemption.” She revealed.

“They’re going to need to talk to me first. What’s Oboros Infinitas doing showing their faces now? Ready to head into the Arbiter’s Council?” Frost asked as she tried to think of a name to give Mimicry.

Calling what was supposed to be able to disguise itself ‘Mimicry’ was a dead give away to anyone that was able to read between the lines. Namesakes were everything in this world too.

“There are tens of thousands of captured Scarlet Logic personnel, as well as many more criminals. They seem to have a plan to put them to good use. The Arbiter’s Council shall reveal it… I unfortunately will not be attending. The Nexus is a poisonous place for me. I’m sorry if you were looking forward to seeing a friendly face. Hehe…”

Frost recalled Galia mentioning something about this too; and how she would wholeheartedly agree with their methods of restoring the Nex Megalopolis.

Whatever it was, she’d be hearing about it soon.

“But this is funny. When we spoke with Mimicry, it wasn’t as active as it is now~” Carpalis added.

Finally, Frost reached towards Mimicry and placed a hand atop its head. It wore a look of brazen confusion, its eyes blinking rapidly, unable to comprehend the sensation before Frost came up with a name.

Mimi.

“Frost. That is 3 letters off Mimicry. It wouldn’t take long for someone to find out. Additionally, ‘Mimi’ sounds cute. Mimicry doesn’t strike me as a cute creature.”

You’re telling me you have something better than ‘Mimi’?

“That I do. Acedia. The lack of knowing or feeling. It is of flesh, muscle, tissue, and nerves and yet I understand the concept of morality better than it does. How can that be so? It can earn ‘Mimi’.” Nav was unexpectedly hostile. It didn’t reflect in her voice, but Frost could somehow sense this.

Regardless, she then blessed Mimicry with its new name.

“Acedia. This will be your name from now own. You’ll also call yourself a woman too. Or whatever you like, so long as you’re consistent. No one must know you’re Mimicry.” Frost warned.

And Mimicry… no, Acedia couldn’t be happier.

“Now then, tell me everything you know.”